The Last Frontier isn’t a single place — it’s a collection of wild regions each with its own character, challenge and reward. The Alaska Region Travel Guides section of Travel Destinations takes you deep into the state’s big open spaces: from ice-tipped glaciers and fjords to tundra plains and quiet coastal towns. Each guide gives you region-by-region insight — when to go, how to travel in true Alaska style, where to stay, and what photography opportunities await. Whether you’re chasing auroras in the Interior or paddling past icebergs in the rain-soaked Panhandle, these posts help you explore Alaska beyond the cruise ship and pull off a trip that feels real, rugged, and utterly memorable.
I didn’t get to explore as many back roads in Alaska as I’d hoped — but the ones I did were unforgettable. Between muddy adventures, surprise road signs, and reindeer encounters, Alaska’s back roads proved that beauty and humor often share the same path.
Built into the hills of Alaska’s Inside Passage, Ketchikan is a town of stories — from its fishing-camp beginnings to the colorful Creek Street boardwalk once lined with brothels. Today, those same stilted buildings house art galleries, salmon streams, and echoes of the past that make this one of Alaska’s most fascinating stops.
Alaska is where adventure still feels wild. Our June journey combined a land and sea cruise from Fairbanks to Seward — exploring Denali’s vast wilderness, whale watching along the Inside Passage, and standing in awe before Hubbard Glacier. This Alaska Region Travel Guide shares the best routes, travel tips, and photography moments from America’s Last Frontier.